Start and Finish at The Peanut Farm
30k/50k
Registration: 8:00am
Start time: 9:00am
$20 to support the BCA

Ride the Winter City Urban Randonnée February 12, 2012 —  a rolling fund-raiser for the BCA in association with the Alaska Randonneurs, and an opportunity for all cyclists to support BCA while experiencing the adventurous style of randonneuring cycling.

Last year 85 riders traversed Anchorage on the inaugural Winter City 50K. This year choose between two new courses – a 30Km or 50Km winter-day’s ride through the heart of Anchorage on track and trail. Progress from checkpoint to checkpoint, navigating between food and stops along the way. See how easy it is to winter bicycle commute in Anchorage. It’s a event, but not a race– so don’t dally!

Thank you to Winter City Rando sponsors
Diane’s Restaurant , Clean Air Challenge

Moscow to Mongolia: A bike in a suitcase, the trans-Siberian railroad and a 1,000 kilometer cycling adventure.

More than beautiful landscapes and intimate portraits- you will learn about adventure cycling, how to ride the Russian rails, and why you might want full suspension and a GPS in Mongolia.

Tuesday, Jan 24th, 6:30-9PM, BP Energy Center. Light snacks provided.
$10 donation or free for new/renewing members: $35 individual, $50 family.

BCA is very excited that local and international bicycle commuter, Sage Cohen, will entertain you during this BCA fundraiser.  If you’ve been to one of Sage’s presentations before, then you won’t want to miss this NEW one about her summer 2011 adventure bicycling in Asia. If you’ve never experienced one on the other hand, you’ll definitely want to come be inspired, informed and entertained on a cold winter’s evening when you can take a vicarious bicycle trip with a personal tour guide!

NOTE:  Parking by the BP Childcare Facility (blue/green building) or in the Marriott Residence Inn lot is prohibited. Cars parked in prohibited areas may be towed.

What: Bike First Friday

When: Friday, January 6th, meet at 5:45 pm

Where: Group start at Modern Dwellers Chocolate Lounge, (Midtown, Midtown, Midtown), Blastoff at 6 pm

Visit: 4-5 different Anchorage midtown or downtown art galleries

Group Finish at: Cafe Amsterdam, 8:30 pm

January Leader- Jim Mayers

Why: TGIF— it’s a fun way to meet others, see art, and learn safe, convenient bicycle routes

Show up wearing bright, reflective, hi-vis clothing with lots of blinking or bright lights to alert the public of our presence. The more bright, reflective, and blinking we are— the more we stand out and the safer our adventure is.

While visiting art galleries, we ride around the streets, trails, and alleys of Anchorage introducing you to safe and convenient cut-throughs and shortcuts that will streamline your urban bicycle commute.

We are BCA’s Bicycle Ambassadors. We follow the rules of the road and model safe bicycling habits—all while having fun. Come join the adventure!

Questions: Dawn Groth, cell 720-3580

Special Thank you’s to BCA volunteers; January Leader- Jim Mayers, Artist—Gina Edwards, and Graphics Guy—Joe Edwards!

In mid December, BCA was excited to see that Senator Begich’s amendment to a transportation safety bill passed unanimously through the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. The amendment encourages states and local governments to design and build roads that are safe for both motorized and non-motorized users.  In a rare bipartisan effort, after introducing the measure, Senator Begich worked with Senator Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, to ensure the amendment allows states the flexibility to write a policy that works best for their state. This common sense measure does not add any cost for the federal or state governments and does not require one design for all roads; it just requires smart planning. As a result, the amendment passed the committee with unanimous support. That’s impressive  because every other vote that day in the Committee fell along party lines and shows the type of strong leadership Senator Begich has brought to Washington D.C.

The Begich safe roads Amendment is good for Alaska. According to the 2009 American Commuter Survey more people commute to work by biking and walking in Alaska than in any other state. Unfortunately Alaska also has the third highest rate of biking and walking fatalities. One in every seven traffic fatalities is a bicyclist or pedestrian. Nationally, pedestrian deaths and injuries are increasing. By ensuring that bicyclists and pedestrians are taken into account in the design phase, the Begich safety amendment saves lives and money by building our streets right the first time.

Another step to improving safety for pedestrians and bicyclists is to build new biking and walking infrastructure on existing roads, and Senator Begich has been a consistent supporter of that too – from his days as Mayor of Anchorage to his current role as Senator. As Mayor he championed improvements to Strawberry Road and 9^th Avenue in Anchorage. This year in the Senate, he championed maintaining the Transportation Enhancement fund, the main source of federal funding for biking and walking projects. The program sets aside one to two cents of every transportation dollar for things like sidewalks, bikeways, and other uses that make our roads safe and complete. In Alaska these funds have been used for projects like the Blue Ice trail at Portage and improving access to Chester Creek trail and UAA trails here in Anchorage.

On behalf of all those who currently use their bicycle for transportation, as well as those who would but are still apprehensive about getting on a bike and mingling with motorists on the streets of Anchorage, BCA thanks Senator Begich for his leadership in making our streets safer for all users.

If Mother Nature is going to deliver icy conditions to Anchorage, then let’s go SKATE! Ride your bike (if safe), slap on your ice skates, and celebrate the solstice at the Torchlight Skating Party at Cuddy Family Midtown Park Skating Oval.

Winter Solstice Skating

Mother Nature has last word. Icy roads and trails are too dangerous for December 18th, Holiday Light Bicycle Parade… ride is cancelled. We’ll try again next year.

Trail Conditions

How has the snow plowing been along your winter bike commute? Anchorage has had a lot of snow so far this winter and that can present winter bike commuters with significant challenges. If there are spots along your winter bike commute that need to be cleared of snow, you can contact Street maintenance and let them know. Roads in Anchorage are maintained by both the muni and the state. We’ve got contact information for both agencies at our website under Report Road, Sidewalk & Trail Conditions. The information on winter conditions is at the bottom of the page. Also, folks new to winter riding may find some useful information in the Winter Riding Tips on our website.

Saturday, December 10, 11AM Second Saturday Ride
The next Second Saturday Ride is this Saturday December 10. Meet at Goose Lake at 11AM for a fun and casual ride to the Fire Island Rustic Bakeshop. Anyone is welcome to join, especially those new to winter biking. It’s a great way to meet other winter cyclists and share tips about how to get around Anchorage safely by bike. Unless conditions change (which they probably will, it is after all snowing as I write this), plan on an icy ride. Studded tires are highly recommended, as are ice cleats. The Chester Creek Trail is in pretty good condition after last week’s Chinook storm (Thank You Groomers!) but the street side paths can still be pretty icy.

Sunday, December 18th, 5pm-8:30pm—Holiday Lights Bicycle Parade— Groove into your Holiday Spirit….Join Bicycle Commuters of Anchorage on a bicycle tour of Anchorage’s ‘best holiday decorated homes’, according to Anchorage Daily News. Start and finish at Spenard Roadhouse. Route determined according to Dec 18th winter riding conditions. Presents given to those wearing holiday lights, a Santa helmet, or able to provide enroute holiday tunes. Bring your cameras. Holiday cookies provided by BCA. For questions call Dawn 720-3580. Free!

Friday, Jan 6, 5:45-8:45, 2012—First Friday Bicycle Tour— See great art, meet other bicycle commuters, learn safe and convenient cut-throughs and shortcuts that will streamline your bicycle commute…. Bicycle Commuters of Anchorage start at the Midtown Modern Dwellers Chocolate Lounge at 5:45pm, and finish at Café Amsterdam around 8:45 pm. For questions call Dawn 720-3580. Free!

What: Bike First Friday

When: Friday, December 2nd, meet at 5:45 pm

Where: Group start at Modern Dwellers Chocolate Lounge, (Midtown, Midtown, Midtown), Blastoff at 6 pm

Visit: 4-5 different Anchorage midtown or downtown art galleries

Group Finish at: Cafe Amsterdam, 8:30 pm

December Leader- Alaska Randonneurs— Kevin Turinksy

Why: TGIF— it’s a fun way to meet others, see art, and learn safe, convenient bicycle routes

Show up wearing bright, reflective, hi-vis clothing with lots of blinking or bright lights to alert the public of our presence. The more bright, reflective, and blinking we are— the more we stand out and the safer our adventure is.

While visiting art galleries, we ride around the streets, trails, and alleys of Anchorage introducing you to safe and convenient cut-throughs and shortcuts that can streamline your bicycle commute.

We are BCA’s Bicycle Ambassadors. We follow the rules of the road and model safe bicycling habits—all while having fun. Come join the adventure!

Questions: Dawn Groth, cell 720-3580

Special Thank you’s to BCA volunteers; December Leader—Kevin Turinksy from Alaska Randonneurs, Artist—Gina Edwards, and Graphics Guy—Joe Edwards!

The draft of the Senate’s transportation authorization bill, S. 1813 Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act, includes language that would introduce a mandatory sidepath law on roads in our National Parks and other Federal lands. It requires cyclists on Federal lands to use a path or trail, instead of roads, if the speed limit is over 30 MPH and a trail exists within 100 yards, regardless of its condition or utility of the path. The provision sets a terrible precedent. Passing it would send the wrong message to transportation agencies that these policies are acceptable. Laws like this have been taken off the books in states over the past 30 years. This takes us in the wrong direction.

Please join us in telling the Senate that the mandatory sidepath law is a bad idea. Please sign a petition from the League of American Bicyclists opposing this legislation.

TheLeague of American Bicyclists is working on many other aspects of the transportation reauthorization bill. This petition relates specifically to the mandatory sidepath law, which we felt deserved special attention. Stay tuned for news and action alerts related to this and other aspects of this critical legislation.